IceRays set to host Wichita Falls for series with big playoff repercussions

Wildcats 3 points behind CC in playoff chase

George Tuley/Special to the Caller-Times
Beau Walker (left) and the IceRays are hoping to find the net with regularity against Wichita Falls this weekend. Corpus Christi has dropped four one-goal games in the season series.

CORPUS CHRISTI - Making the North American Hockey League playoffs for the first time remains the IceRays’ foremost goal.

How they do over the next two nights will play a big role in determining whether there will be games to play after the regular season ends.

Corpus Christi is back on home ice beginning Friday for what unquestionably is the season’s most pivotal series: A two-game set against the Wichita Falls Wildcats at the American Bank Center.

The numbers speak to how big the weekend is, as with 10 games left in the regular season, the IceRays (22-22-6, 50 points) lead the Wildcats (22-26-3, 47) by three points for the South Division’s final playoff spot. Corpus Christi has a game in hand on Wichita Falls as well, providing the possibility for additional cushion.

Simply put, the next two games are tantamount to the playoffs.

“It’s exciting,” IceRays coach Justin Quenneville said. “This is what hockey’s about. Obviously, you want to test yourself against the best and we’ve done that here lately and been successful.

Now we’ve got to test ourselves (as far as) the will to win and I think this weekend is obviously going to dictate how much we’re going to be chewing our nails down the stretch or not. In reality, we’d like to create that gap (in the standings) and it’s up to us.”

After splitting four games in six days against NAHL points leader Amarillo, the IceRays have been off for the past eight days. Wichita Falls tightened the race by winning twice in Topeka last weekend, pushing its winning streak to four games.

“They’re probably playing their best hockey of the year right now,” Quenneville said. “They’re not to be taken lightly. Their record is not indicative of their players. They’ve got some very skilled players with some finishers who have a lot of experience.”

The Wildcats have controlled the season series, winning five of the six matchups. Four victories came by one goal — three in shootouts — and another included an empty-net goal during the final minute.

“Our record is 1-2-3 against them and it easily could be 5-1,” Quenneville said. “It’s the sense of urgency to score big goals. If you look at our shootout percentage against them, it was one goal in 14 attempts. You’re not going to win many shootouts against any team if you do that.

“My issue is not that we got points out of the games against them but that we gave them points. But the past is the past and they’re playing against a new team now and we’re excited.”

And if the IceRays are to make their first playoff appearance in three NAHL seasons, the time to put their best foot forward has arrived.

“We want to make sure we make a statement here like we’ve done lately and we’ve got to make sure we do it right off the hop in the first period (Friday) to let them know what kind of weekend it’s going to be,” Quenneville said.

“This is the playoffs for us — you’ve got to win no matter what.”

LOOSE PUCKS

IceRays captain Michael Economos has committed to play at NCAA Division III Plymouth (N.H) State next season. Economos has 24 points (10 goals, 14 assists) and a team-high 122 penalty minutes in 49 games. Plymouth State finished 19-7-1 this season, winning the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference regular-season championship for the second consecutive year. ... As part of their ongoing 15th anniversary celebration, the IceRays will hold another “Hockey Heroes” ceremony before Saturday’s game. The alumni scheduled to be feted are forwards Ken McKay (2004-05) and Chad Woollard (2009-10) and defenseman Jamie Hearn (2000-02). McKay has worked in the Corpus Christi area since his career was cut short by a neck injury. Woollard retired from pro hockey last month after a 14-season career while Hearn is a police officer in the Dallas area.